Let me introduce myself. My name is Donald McLaughlin, I am currently serving two life sentences without the possibility of parole, in the North Carolina penal system. Blessed to have a chance to be a part of this. As we all know, being raised in the 80’s and 90’s were not the best years for young Black parents. Being classified as lower class (poor) and surrounded by drugs, violence, and crime never breed anything good. Some of us make it out and unfortunately some of us do not. I never made it out. In my youth days most of my time was spent playing sports. School was not my favorite, but my love for the game of football motivated me to make it through grade school. During my younger years I stayed in my fair share of trouble, but never had any run-ins with the law. Meaning that I got away with a lot but never understood once I kept getting away with stuff, I would expect the same results years to come. Overall, I tried things I saw growing up and what I was accustomed to. Life was not always bad but got a lot better after my parents overcame drug addiction. I was a high school graduate, but a college dropout, which in turn my life really changed. After thar it took me a little longer than it should to focus on the things that matter career, family, and kids. Instead, it was a job not a career. Selling drugs, criminal activity, partying, and affairs with a lot of women. My first felony came in the year of 2005 at a time when I was active in the community. I sponsored and coached my own youth football team. I did a lot of volunteer work and was an active member of the N.C. Officiating Association. All that would be stalled after I had my second run-in with the law, which I was charged with first degree murder. Eventually I would plea out to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Fast forward to my current situation: August of 2011 I was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of armed robbery. Being arrested for these charges had to be the worst day of my life. Mentally it’s a struggle waiting to know the outcome with life still moving all around you. They isolate you in these concrete boxes for years on years mentally choking you out. In the Lee County court and may around the United States, you only have three options, plea, trial, or turn state evidence. Upon waiting things around you start to happen. You lose family and friends to death or mainly disloyalty. A lot of people just walk away because of the situation and or circumstances. I’ve been blessed just to have who stuck it out because these days get hard without nobody. The mental and emotional battle has or was the thing most I had the hardest time overcoming. Guys around you lose that battle every day. I do a lot of praying, working out, and meditating to get through several days. They lead you to believe this is rehabilitation. How can a man rehabilitate with life without parole? If the judicial system wants to rehab a lifer, it starts with a reentry date. Life without parole means no reentry and no way to find out if one like myself will get a chance to go back. Everybody deserves a second chance. LWOP is not the answer. Fight and never give up. Thank you to Behind the Walls Talk for allowing me to be part of this. This is amazing!
Donald McLaughlin